NAICS 488991 Quarterly Industry Report
Packing and Crating
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 488991Sector: 48Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This NAICS 488991 industry profile draws from Census Bureau[5] establishment counts and employment figures, Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] wage data for transportation support occupations, and SBA[7] size standard thresholds. Fair Market Value updates this report quarterly, monitoring industrial production indices and international trade volumes that drive packing and crating demand. Our research team provides NAICS 488991 valuation professionals with benchmarks on revenue per project, material cost ratios, and labor productivity across the freight preparation sector.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the packing and crating industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Packing and Crating (NAICS 488991) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in packing, crating, and otherwise preparing goods for transportation. These firms build custom wooden crates, apply protective packaging, and secure cargo for safe transit by truck, rail, ocean, or air. This industry is distinct from general packaging and labeling services (NAICS 561910), which focus on consumer-facing product packaging rather than freight protection.
Approximately 671 companies operate in this industry, employing an estimated 16,960 workers across the United States. Census Bureau data[5] confirms that these establishments serve manufacturers, military installations, trade show exhibitors, and household goods movers needing specialized protective packaging. Custom crating for industrial equipment, machinery, and electronics requires precise measurement, material selection, and knowledge of shipping regulations, particularly for international moves subject to ISPM-15 phytosanitary standards for wood packaging materials.
Revenue sources include per-project crating fees, contract packaging for recurring manufacturing clients, and export compliance services. Firms range from small local crating shops to national operators with facilities near major ports and manufacturing centers. Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] data shows workers in this field include skilled carpenters, forklift operators, and packaging engineers. Material costs for lumber, foam, and barrier packaging represent a major variable expense, and pricing tracks closely with industrial production volumes and international trade activity.
What's Included in This Industry
- Custom wooden crate construction for industrial equipment and machinery
- Export packing and crating compliant with ISPM-15 standards
- Protective foam packaging and cushioning for fragile items
- Skidding and palletizing heavy equipment for freight shipment
- Military specification packaging and preservation services
- Trade show and exhibition freight packing and crating
- Household goods packing for long-distance relocation shipments
- Vapor barrier packaging for corrosion-sensitive metal components
- Shock and vibration monitoring installation for sensitive cargo
- On-site packing and crating services at customer facilities
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Support Activities for Transportation | 488 |
| Industry Group | Other Support Activities for Transportation | 4889 |
| NAICS Industry | Other Support Activities for Transportation | 48899 |
| National Industry | Packing and Crating | 488991 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 488999 | All Other Support Activities for Transportation | All other transportation support activities covering miscellaneous freight services not specifically classified as packing and crating for shipment preparation |
| 561910 | Packaging and Labeling Services | Packaging and labeling service establishments that prepare consumer-facing product packaging rather than protective freight crating for transportation purposes |
| 488510 | Freight Transportation Arrangement | Freight transportation arrangement firms that coordinate shipment logistics and often refer clients to packing and crating specialists for freight preparation needs |
| 484110 | General Freight Trucking, Local | Local general freight trucking carriers that transport packed and crated goods from preparation facilities to shipping terminals and final delivery points |
| 493110 | General Warehousing and Storage | General warehousing establishments that store packed and crated goods awaiting pickup by carriers or consolidation into larger freight shipments |
| 488320 | Marine Cargo Handling | Marine cargo handling firms that load crated and palletized goods aboard vessels, requiring proper freight preparation for safe ocean transit |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 14.0% | 224 |
| 2 | Florida | 10.3% | 165 |
| 3 | Texas | 9.4% | 150 |
| 4 | Illinois | 6.8% | 108 |
| 5 | New York | 6.1% | 97 |
| 6 | Ohio | 4.5% | 71 |
| 7 | New Jersey | 4.0% | 63 |
| 8 | North Carolina | 3.4% | 54 |
| 9 | Georgia | 3.3% | 52 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | 2.9% | 46 |
% Of Establishments
0%
14%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
64
Total SBA Loans
$23.2M
Total Loan Volume
$363K
Average Loan Size
12 yrs
Average Loan Term
11.50%
Average Interest Rate
464
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: Under SBA size standards[7], NAICS 488991 businesses qualify as small with average annual receipts up to $34 million. Packing and crating firms can access SBA 7(a) loans[8] for equipment purchases, facility expansion, and working capital. The 504 loan program[9] supports acquisition of warehouse space, woodworking equipment, and specialized packaging machinery. Many firms in this sector carry seasonal working capital needs tied to manufacturing production cycles and trade show calendars.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Countybank | 8 | $11.2M | $1.4M |
| 2 | Meridian Bank | 8 | $4.0M | $500K |
| 3 | Harborstone CU | 8 | $3.0M | $371K |
| 4 | Lendistry SBLC, LLC | 24 | $2.4M | $102K |
| 5 | CDC Small Business Finance Corp. | 8 | $2.4M | $300K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses are classified under NAICS 488991?
Custom crating shops, export packaging firms, military specification packers, trade show freight preparers, and industrial equipment packaging companies are classified under NAICS 488991. These businesses prepare goods for transportation rather than consumer retail packaging. Packaging and labeling for retail is classified under NAICS 561910[10].
How is NAICS 488991 structured within the transportation sector?
NAICS 488991 falls under Industry Group 4889 (Other Support Activities for Transportation) within Subsector 488. It sits alongside NAICS 488999 (All Other Support Activities for Transportation), focusing specifically on physical preparation of goods for shipment rather than arranging or managing transportation.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 488991?
The SBA size standard[7] for NAICS 488991 is $34 million in average annual receipts. This revenue-based threshold uses the five-year average of gross receipts to determine small business eligibility for federal contracting set-asides and SBA loan programs.
What NAICS codes are most closely related to 488991?
Related codes include 488999 (All Other Support Activities for Transportation), 561910 (Packaging and Labeling Services), 488510 (Freight Transportation Arrangement), 493110 (General Warehousing and Storage), and 484110 (General Freight Trucking, Local). These codes represent the upstream and downstream partners in the freight preparation chain.
What industries depend most on packing and crating services?
Heavy equipment manufacturers, defense contractors, trade show exhibitors, and international shippers are the largest customer segments. Freight forwarders (488510) frequently coordinate packing services for export cargo. Census Bureau data[5] shows approximately 671 firms and nearly 17,000 workers in this industry, indicating steady commercial demand for freight preparation.
What activities are included in NAICS 488991?
Included activities cover custom crate construction, export packing, skidding, palletizing, foam cushioning, vapor barrier application, military spec packaging, and on-site packing at customer facilities. Consumer product packaging is excluded per Census Bureau[11] classification and falls under NAICS 561910.
Are NAICS 488991 businesses eligible for SBA loans?
Where are NAICS 488991 businesses geographically concentrated?
Packing and crating operations cluster near major port complexes, airports, and manufacturing centers. Census Bureau[5] establishment data shows concentrations in Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago, and the greater New York area, where export volumes and industrial production generate consistent demand for freight preparation services. Military installation proximity also drives location decisions for defense packaging firms.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]Census Bureau data data.census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]SBA sba.gov
- [8]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [9]504 loan program sba.gov
- [10]NAICS 561910 census.gov
- [11]Census Bureau census.gov
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